Over 100 Protesters Detained in Turkey on Eve of NATO Summit

Protests Erupt in Turkey Ahead of NATO Summit

According to Главком: Turkish police detained more than a hundred individuals during demonstrations against the NATO alliance, just before the summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara. Law enforcement used tear gas to disperse the unauthorized gathering in the capital. The protests were organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), which urged its supporters to voice opposition to NATO's activities.

The demonstrators assembled at Kizilay Square in central Ankara. According to the TKP, those detained included party members and some of its leadership. Hundreds more marched in Istanbul from Taksim Square to the Dolmabahce district, with additional protests occurring in the Kadikoy area. However, no major clashes were reported in Istanbul.

On Sunday, police also arrested 39 individuals in other parts of Turkey. Last month, anti-terrorism raids across the country led to the arrest of 103 people, with a total of 225 individuals detained.

Protesters' Slogans

Demonstrators voiced their grievances with the following chants:

• “NATO murderer, get out of our country”
• “No passage for NATO”

“We gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest NATO. We said we would not hand over Ankara to NATO supporters, that we would not allow Ankara to remain silent. We kept that promise.” - Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey

The NATO summit in Ankara is expected to be a major event, with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and leaders of other alliance member states in attendance. One of the key topics on the agenda will be Russia's war against Ukraine and continued support for Kyiv.

The arrests of protesters highlight rising tensions in Turkey ahead of this significant international gathering. The anti-NATO demonstrations reflect broader public discontent and anger among some segments of the population regarding the country's foreign policy. Notably, such events could shape perceptions of the summit and influence discussions, particularly around support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

As tensions escalate in Turkey prior to the NATO summit, the situation reflects a broader pattern of unrest, with authorities recently detaining a total of 225 individuals during anti-NATO operations. This backdrop of protests underscores the growing discontent among segments of the population towards the alliance's presence in the region.